Washington State Fly-Fishing Guide

Washington is well known as a fly-fishing state and has a diverse range of opportunities for anglers. The coastal area offers migratory and saltwater species, and the state as a whole has game fish in every county. The abundant amount of moisture and the mountains contribute to a steady flow of water in the rivers and streams, and the lakes are usually full of freshwater.

  1. Western Region

    • The western coastal region in Washington is one of the most popular for fly-fisherman. The coastal rivers have seasonal runs of steelhead, salmon and sea run cutthroats. Many of the rivers also have resident populations of trout, bass, pike and muskie. The large rivers are not as attractive for fly-fisherman but can be fished effectively from a boat. The small- to medium-sized rivers can be waded or fished from a boat. The Olympic Peninsula is famous as a steelhead destination for fly-fisherman. The western region also has numerous small streams and lakes in the Cascade Mountains that have wild populations of trout. The lakes found in the lower valleys will also hold trout but might be better for bass and pike if the water is warm.

    Eastern Region

    • The eastern region of Washington also offers fisherman opportunities for migratory fish. There are fewer rivers with salmon and steelhead, but places such as Hells Canyon are well known for the large runs and massive fish. Some of the fish work through the river system into Idaho spawning grounds. The eastern region also has fishing for resident trout and warm-water species. Many of the rivers and lakes in the eastern-central part of the state receive little fishing pressure and have strong populations of trophy bass.

    Techniques

    • Fly-fishing in Washington requires anglers to be prepared with several techniques. For those pursuing salmon and steelhead, spey rods are a top choice. Spey rods allow the angler to make long casts with floating or sinking lines. Swinging streamers or drifting eggs through the bigger rivers is productive for salmon and steelhead. The resident trout in rivers and lakes require imitations of natural insects. The Yakima river has a strong skwala stonefly hatch in the spring, and most of the rivers and lakes will support populations of mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and bait-fish. Bass and pike fisherman should carry an 8 weight rod and have a fly box stocked with cone head streamers and poppers.

    Regulations

    • The regulations for Washington fisheries are always subject to change based on migratory fish counts. All anglers require a current license, and catch record cards must be filled out for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut. Largemouth bass anglers can keep five fish with one over 17 inches and the remainder under 12 inches. Smallmouth anglers can keep 10 fish each day with only one over 14 inches. Anglers can also keep five trout, but only two may be removed from streams. Steelhead and salmon regulations change frequently, but the general regulations allow two steelhead over 20 inches each day, but only one wild fish may be retained each year. Salmon anglers can keep two fish each day.

    Expert Insight

    • The diversity of Washington fisheries makes it difficult to plan a fishing trip. It is best to choose a region and focus on a species for the entire trip. Timing the migratory runs is important, and anglers fishing between the runs should focus on resident fish. It is beneficial to have several rods prepared for different fishing situations.